Saturday digest

Some random thoughts about what’s happening here at the end of a busy Saturday:

- DP has flitted off for a few days on a work jaunt with a colleague; we dropped him off at the airport late this morning. Given that we are used to him being gone for 4-6 weeks at a stretch, a 5-day absence seems like no big deal. Let’s hope that that is in fact the case!

- Miss B is in transports of joy because she left out a significant haul of candy for the Candy Fairy, and received a stuffed unicorn in return. Is this a post-Halloween thing where you are? I had never heard of it until we moved to the Midwest, but we’ve done it the last two years--even though, to quote Suburban Matron, it brings on one of those “moments when you don't just suspect, you KNOW that you are raising some of the most indulged creatures on earth, at any time, ever.” So very true, but mitigated somewhat by the fact that that little critter makes her so very happy.

- My friend SP is hosting a meeting of the local Vintage Homes Society at her house tomorrow (Sunday). She and her husband have been painstakingly renovating their early 20th century house for the last 2+ years, doing most of the work themselves, and this is their chance to show it off to some people who can really appreciate it. I offered to help with the food, knowing that SP loathes cooking, and as a result I am essentially doing a full-on catering job. It’s providing some useful practical experience and learning for me, since as much as I love to cook, I’ve never attempted to do it in any kind of professional capacity. More on all that later.

- After one serious rainstorm this week, we’ve gone from full-blown autumn color to naked trees everywhere. It looks like the bleak midwinter out there, but daytime temperatures are still in the 60s F (15ish C). Since some of my friends and relatives on the East Coast are still coping with the aftermath of last week’s freak October snowstorm, I’ve got no complaints to offer about the weather.

- I’m planning to take advantage of tonight’s time change extra hour to stay up, roll out pie crust, and watch Saturday Night Live (all at the same time!). It ends at midnight Central time, which tonight is like 11pm! Do I know how to party or what?